it wasn't what the scientists were hoping for.并不像科學(xué)家所希望的那樣

hope for:希望； 期待

We all hope for an improvement in the weather.

我們都希望天氣好轉(zhuǎn)。

it was sort of, it was a fairly negative result.可以說是一個(gè)相當(dāng)令人失望的結(jié)果

sort of:有幾分地

Let's try to rig up some sort of shelter.

讓我們趕快搭個(gè)遮風(fēng)擋雨的棚吧。

Instead of finding signals that might predict an earthquake,沒有找到能夠預(yù)測(cè)地震的信號(hào)

instead of:代替

Instead of pressing forward, they drew back.

他們不僅沒有前進(jìn)，反而后退了。

these natural disasters were far more complex than anyone had ever imagined.證明了這種自然災(zāi)害超乎想象地復(fù)雜

far more:多得多

I am far more of an individualist than I ever was.

我比以前更是一個(gè)個(gè)人主義者了。